Tuesday, October 28, 2014

You've all done it. The pumpkin patch. It's like the new (but not new at all, really) thing to do, right? There's good patches, there's boring patches, there's patches that are really just carnivals in disguise. And I love them ALL. But this year, the Jensen family got a bit down and dirty in the patch and discovered what the REAL pumpkin patch is all about. This was a first for me. I had never seen one with all of the pumpkins still growing, vines everywhere. It was dirty. It was awesome. I mean, we cut our pumpkin right off the vine! We hummed and hawed about which one we were ready to commit to, because when you cut it yourself, it feels sort of special and like you should really think carefully about it. Just when I thought I was getting bored of the whole punkin' patch idea, this little gem of a farm won me over once again.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

So. First of all, I never win ANYTHING. Honestly, I don't think I have won a single thing since 3rd grade when I got 2nd place in a poster contest sponsored by the local fire department. (My one and only trophy!) But recently I've had a massive string of good luck. After scoring three (yes, three!) pairs of adorable Zuzii shoes, I somehow managed to get randomly picked as the winner of this fabulous owl cape by Finnish label Mainio from NYC children's boutique, Estella. What?! This is insane. The cape is super high quality and London hasn't stopped running around the house wearing it and hooting up a storm since it arrived in the mail. Trust me, if it's London-approved, that is saying something. The girl is picky picky picky. If she wasn't already set on being a freaking rainbow unicorn for Halloween, I would make her be this owl. It would make such a great costume yet is still something you can keep on wearing through the winter! Check out the full collection of Mainio here and definitely take a look at Estella's widely-praised boutique! All those kid brands you love? Yeah, they've got 'em.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

I have lots of things I need to catch up on here! First up: our trip to Utah to see my fam. Utah is becoming quite the kid heaven. There is so much more to do there than in years past! A huge new aquarium (which we saw last visit - sorry no pics! Next time!) and an amazing kid's museum called the Museum of Natural Curiosity. Guys. I've seen LOTS of kid museums. This one blows them all out of the water. It is a state-of-the-art, no-expense-spared, must-see destination. We went two days in a row and still didn't see everything. There are over 400 interactive experiences! Don't know if you're aware, but that's a lot. The cousins had a blast together and I was ready to just move in there by the end of it. Tons of fun! I think my favorite part was in the outdoor section – a giant Noah's Ark splash pad. Holy Moses. I mean, Noah. Finding it was a suprise, so the kids got soaking wet but so worth it. Bottom line: Get to Utah.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

I am debating what I want to do when the time comes for Piper to move to a bed. No, you don't need to point out that I am getting just a teensy bit ahead of myself. For the past 3.5 years London's room has been orange, grey, and white - I wanted to go gender neutral in case #2 was a boy, but surprise! Two girls in a row. All of my careful color planning was pointless. As much as I struggle to make nice with pink, I really like this room and all of the grey mixed in. I think I could live with the pink here. I daresay I may even attempt to make those poufs (how's that for ambitious??)

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Today I got a Land's End catalog in the mail that showed some too-perfect children toting new backpacks with big letters underneath saying "IT'S TIME!" Wait, what? Don't try to cut my summer short, people. And don't even think about saying those three words: Back. To. School.

Ok, who am I kidding. I'm stoked for back-to-school. But it did make me a little teary thinking that yes, summer WILL come to an end one day and I just can't deal with that quite yet. But for those of you who just love the thought of buying back-to-school clothes and school supplies, here's a product that might interest you. A desk. Doesn't that sound exciting?? Go on, try it on your kids. Tell them you got them this awesome present and when they beg and plead for you to tell them what it is, announce with great excitement: "A desk!" They will collapse with glee, I tell you.

So maybe they won't get as excited about this desk as I am. It's gorgeous. It's wood. It has pretty lines. It hides clutter. All the things I like. It can be used open or closed (depending on how pretty the contents are, of course) and I love the size and visual lightness of the whole thing. And naturally, you have to get the X stool to go with it, which will be available soon. (Desk is currently available for pre-order with delivery scheduled for September). Yes folks, Rafa-kids has done it again. Those Dutch, I tell you. Always up to something wonderful.

Monday, June 02, 2014

I spend a ridiculous amount of time looking at children's products / toys / rooms / playgrounds, etc., and it's made me a bit picky about what I think is truly special. There are so many things out there these days, things I could have never imagined would exist when I first gave birth to London (now 5 1/2!). Some are amazing, beautiful, functional, answers to mother's product prayers. Some are just crap. Ugly. Cheaply made. Uninspiring. Plastic. Thankfully, the trend seems to be moving towards the more beautiful, hand crafted, natural material direction, but every now and again I come across something incredibly special and unique. Something that stays in my mind for days and makes me feel like an excited child all over again. Such has been the case with Cheeriup. I was thumbing through the back of a magazine - you know, through those tiny ads that you're sure no one ever pays attention to - and one caught my eye. I looked it up immediately, I was so charmed, and well, see for yourself. Conceived and crafted by Minneapolis mama Kelly English, these are not just mere playhouses. These are magical thickets. Like a knitted house. Out of sticks. Can you imagine?? When I saw her work, I was immediately reminded of our visit long ago to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens when Patrick Dougherty had built a series of similar woven structures there. We played there for the longest time and I was every bit enchanted as London was. Now, with summer gearing up and a playhouse desperately needed for the backyard, I've been looking at all kinds of options. But this, this thicket idea really has me going. I'm sure it will turn out nowhere near as incredible as Kelly's, but this is too good not to try. And with so many natural materials here in Seattle at my fingertips, I am dying to go foraging for willows for this special project. As I read through Kelly's blog, so many of her feelings about childhood resonated with me and it was just wonderful to read about how driven she is to create these special places for others to enjoy. What a gift, especially for children, to have a quiet place to escape and be inspired by their surroundings. Kelly, I hope you never stop doing this. It's too beautiful.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Guys. It's been way too long. Again. I know I keep saying I will get better about this blogging biz. But it's hard. Lately we have been swamped...with life, I suppose. The garden has literally taken over every free second of time. I'm out there for no joke, hours every day. I've pulled thousands of weeds. THOUSANDS. But it's looking awesome. My hands however, are not. :) One other thing that's looking awesome? This baby I made. She is the sweetest little thing and I simply cannot get enough. I am in heaven watching her grow and develop and discover even the smallest things. Like a leaf. Or watching London jump on the bed. Or a secret tiny taste of ice cream. I feel like I'm experiencing life for the first time. And it's exhilerating.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

It's here! The much-anticipated Mini Rodini Home Collection is now available online through their shop and a host of others. Made from organic and upcycled cotton fabrics, the collection consists of bedding sets for babies and kids, plus baby blankets featuring their trademark fun illustrations. I'm in love with the fish one!

Monday, February 03, 2014

I may just have to start a little collection of these guys...for the kids, of course. ;) Made by J. Tanaka of Kobe, Japan, each animal is hand chiseled from fast-growing white albizia wood and is then hand sanded. They are all so beautiful and sweet! Available from Zakka Shop. Update: You can purchase the entire collection at Japan Wave.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Since starting this second round of parenthood, there have been some real tools for success I've discovered that just didn't exist with round one. These are some of my favorite baby products that are totally saving me right now:1. mamaRoo: When Scott suggested we get a baby swing, I really resisted. "They're so huge and ugly!" I cried. But as I slowly came to terms with the fact that this baby is a motion junkie, I started to look around. Was there anything out there that I could stand to look at day after day and that wouldn't take up an entire room? The answer is yes. Designed by 4 Moms, this little miracle worker is better than a swing. Five motion settings, five speeds, five nature sounds and a plug in for your phone just might be an answer to your prayers for parental relief. The slick design doesn't hurt either and it blends right in with the rest of our house.

2. Solly Baby Wrap: I had a Baby Bjorn with London and while I loved it, it's not really great for newborns. Piper would prefer to be held all day, which needless to say makes it pretty impossible to get much done. Between the mamaRoo and the Solly Baby Wrap, my arms and back finally get a break. The wrap is like magic - put her in it and she falls asleep in five minutes. Pretty amazing. The great thing about this wrap is that there are several ways to wear it depending on the age of your baby, so it should last for their first year. I also love how soft and lightweight the fabric is and that I can easily toss in in the diaper bag - it takes up very little space!

3. 7 A.M. Enfant Le Sac Igloo: I knew I wanted one of these as soon as I found out I was having a winter baby and it has been so perfect. It's designed to use with a carseat or stroller and it is so easy to just put her in and know that she will be warm enough to go outside without me bundling her up every time. It's like a cozy baby sleeping bag.

4. Skip Hop Hare Brush & Comb Set: One of London's favorite things to do now is to help Piper get ready for the day by picking out her clothes and brushing her hair. This little set is so fun with the comb and brush handles forming the ears and a mirror on the bottom of the holder so baby can admire themselves, of course. We've also been dealing with major cradle cap lately too (gross) and the brush is nice and soft, perfect for helping to shed some of it with small, circular strokes.